“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and evil, death came to them. Physically death would come to them after some time when they were removed from the garden, but spiritually they were dead because of the broken relationship with God. Jesus, the Son of God, came to restore that relationship and bring life back to us. As Paul writes to the church at Rome, he desires that they understand what God has done through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It begins as we understand that through our transgressions, we are dead in them. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23a) While we will die physically, Scripture also speaks of a second death after God’s judgment. All “people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) After judgment, “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.” (Revelation 20:14)

It is for this reason God sent Jesus to take our death upon Himself, in order to offer to us life in Him. In Christ we are made alive. “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)

When we come to God through faith in what God has done through Jesus Christ, we are to live now as one who is alive in Christ. “The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:10-14)

We are to learn how to live in our new life as we follow Jesus who defeated death and sin. We know how to live in sin, but Jesus has come to teach us how to live as one who is alive. We can learn because Jesus is with us. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) He does not leave us, but He shows us how to be alive. This is why we spend time with Him and in the Written Word of God.

While Jesus is teaching us, He is also showing us God’s love and mercy. The reason God responded to our sin through Jesus is because of His love for us. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1a) “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)

God offers His love to us because He is also full of mercy as He sees the results of our sin which brings death. His mercy offers life to us. This is the testimony of Paul as he writes to Timothy. “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

As we live as followers and disciples of Jesus Christ, let us live now as those whom God has made alive in Jesus Christ.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block